Tastemaker: Christian Lane-Brown

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When you want to truly know a city you ask the locals. AVIA's Long Beach hotel did just that, and here are picks and tips for diving into Long Beach.

Australian transplant and wanderlust guru Christian Lane-Brown arrived in Long Beach in early 2001 with nothing more than a backpack and a few crumpled notes in his pocket. A six month stint turned into six years and, well, the rest as they say, is history. He embraced Long Beach’s lack of stuffiness claiming to be more “buttoned down than buttoned up” and, with a passion for free thinking, he found Long Beach to be a great fit considering his penchant for creativity and the outdoors.

“It is easy to feel comfortable in Long Beach,” says Lane-Brown. “The city caters to such a broad spectrum of interests. From urbane to unfinished and eclectic, I enjoy art house theaters and fine dining, but love to jump into motorcycle racing along the docks and wash it all down with a cold beer whislt overlooking the harbor.”

Born and raised in a land down under, Sydney to be exact, Lane-Brown is a graduate of Macquarie University, Sydney, and has dabbled in journalism along with a number of other industries, including television, automotive, demolition, and print before being lured to the “dark side” of media advertising. He has also traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, Europe and most of the United States. While travel is a passion for Lane-Brown, so is literature, film, language, architecture, fast and often expensive machines and, of course, his patient wife Shelby. The Long Beach resident also claims to have a pet marmot named Syd Vicious. Hmmm… we’ll just take his word for it.

Long Beach Magazine

 

  • Where in your city do you go to splurge or treat yourself?
    It’s impossible to narrow that down to a single answer. So, bear with me. When I want to pamper myself I head to Dean Anthony Salon in Belmont Shore. It’s flanked with beautiful women, top-notch stylists, cold beer and luxurious pampering just for guys. For breakfast, lunch or tea it’s La Creperie also in Belmont Shore – very sexy and Parisian. Dinner, I’m thinking downtown at 555, a classic steakhouse, or Parker’s Lighthouse along the waterfront. Both go out of their way to make you feel extra special. When I want to satisfy my sweet tooth, it’s back to Belmont Shore for a Pizooki at BJ’s Pizza & Grill.
  • If your city were a movie, what would be its soundtrack?
    Great question. A mash between Sublime’s “Doin’ Time” and The Pixies “Where is My Mind?”
  • Where would you find the eclectic, underground nightlife in your city?
    Aside from my living room? Okay, I’ll be serious. Tantalum over in the marina has moody views, mellow tunes, nice yachts to look at and even nicer looking people to watch. When the right DJ gets things rocking, it’s Madison in downtown or Café Sevilla, also in downtown, for tapas, sangria and live music. I also like House of Hayden in the East Village Arts District because it’s funky and eclectic. Yard House along the waterfront in Shoreline Village has 250 taps of beer and late-night dining.
  • Imagine you're planning a local day trip for your friends. What would it entail?
    I’d start with a champagne breakfast at Claires overlooking the ocean on the grounds of the Long Beach Museum of Art. Next we’d walk along the beachfront to the lighthouse and rent a Segway. After that, we’d catch a late morning ferry to Catalina Island and nosh on seafood and order a few beers, mountain bike the island’s hills, return to the mainland and commute briefly to Long Beach State’s Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden for tea coffee and more eats. We’d venture  to East Long Beach and dine at Benley Restaurant for dinner before returning to Belmont Shore for a nightcap or dessert – probably Pinkberry or maybe chocolate delights at Michael’s on Naples. Finally, if romance is in order, I’d top it all off with a warm evening gondola ride along the Naples canals.
  • If the weather is not cooperating, what would you do or where would you go?
    I’d check out the brightly colored fish at the Aquarium of the Pacific or catch a movie at the historic Art Theater along 4th Street’s Retro Row, then prowl the shelves at OPEN Book store and maybe catch one of their live poetry readings. I also love the Vintage Tea Leaf on Broadway, where you get to select a cup, don a costume, and sink into a chair that probably used to reside in a royal palace somewhere. It’s high tea as it really should be done.
  • Where would you take your friends to experience the local music scene?
    On Friday night it’s back to the ‘80s at the Gaslamp  on PCH. Think Jon Bon Jovi meets Journey. For blues, jazz and a friendly game of pool, I like Blue Café in downtown – there’s something for everyone.  All the local talent gravitate to the stage at DiPiazza where people aren’t afraid to explore the outer limits of normalcy. And during the summer nothing can compare to the MaiTai Bar and its Rumble (Battle of the Bands). A good beat, sunset views and the best, and seemingly endless, happy hour in town – it’s got all the basic elements on needs to survive.